Residents of Codorus Homes in York met Thursday with architects and planners who will help them design their new neighborhood, and the experts said the community's help is vital to its success.

The York City Housing Authority held a meeting for the residents and the companies it hired to help build a new mixed-use development.

Housing officials have said Codorus Homes, built in 1954, has structural problems and has to be replaced. The agency wants to build a new development on Helen Thackston Memorial Park and move the park to the current housing complex site.

Representatives of developer Diamond & Associates and architecture firm Torti Gallas and Partners introduced themselves and showed the crowd of about 30 examples of housing developments they have built.

They emphasized that they will need the residents' input to create a new community. When it's time to design, the residents will be involved.

"We bring a certain expertise, but you also bring something to the table," said Troy McGhee of the architecture firm.

After the meeting, some residents said they liked what they heard.

"It sounded like a good start," said Marilyn Simmons, who has lived in the complex since 1993. But "we still have a long way to go yet."

Margarita Garcia, who moved in last year, said she's looking forward to a change.

"The homes are so old now," she said. She hopes more residents attend future meetings. "It's through their voices that all this is going to

Julie Hershey said she sees improvements in other areas, so she wants her neighborhood to look better, too.

"I want them to be looking, like, wow, that's nice," she said. "Everyone has to do their part."

Craig Zumbrun, deputy executive director of the housing authority, said the planners will now begin research, looking into utilities, zoning and demographic data.

The housing authority wants to obtain a federal HOPE VI grant for the project.

AT A GLANCE

   Last time: The York City Housing Authority detailed plans to obtain a federal HOPE VI grant to build a new mixed-use development to replace Codorus Homes.

   The latest: Codorus Homes residents met with the planners Thursday.

   What's next: Planners will research and give a presentation in mid-June.